Now, a 'universal' vaccine that could fend off all types of flu

London, July 16 (ANI): A 'universal' flu vaccine could be the 'one fits all' jab - a new two-step approach to immunisation.

Working with mice, ferrets and monkeys, the US team 'primed' the immune system with a 'base' of influenza DNA.

They added a 'booster' consisting of a regular seasonal flu vaccine, which increased and broadened its immunity.

According to The Telegraph, early safety trials of the vaccine have already started and it could be tested on patients as early as 2013.

Mice and ferrets were able to fight off the deadly strain of 1934, strains from 2006 and 2007 and H5N1 'bird flu'.

Flu viruses are notorious for their ability to mutate and become resistant to vaccines.

Antibodies target a lollipop-shaped flu virus surface protein called haemagglutinin (HA). But the structure of the protein's "head" mutates readily, allowing the virus to go undetected when it changes form.

The new vaccine generates 'universal' antibodies that aim for the 'stick' of the HA lollipop, which varies little from strain to strain.

"This a new and interesting approach and they are a very respected group. I would take this very seriously. They seem to have identified a universal or general antibody that attacks many different types of virus," said Professor John Oxford, Britain's leading flu expert and a virologist at St Bart's and Royal London hospitals.